Suspended nutrition composition and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A suspended nutrition composition includes a foamed material, a colloid layer and a nutrient. The foamed material having a plurality of pores includes a starch, a biodegradable polyester and a plasticizer. The pores are formed by bubbles produced from a physical foaming agent. The colloid layer covers a surface of the foamed material. The nutrient is dispersed in the foamed material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application Ser.No. 101135148, filed on Sep. 25, 2012. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a nutrition composition and a manufacturingmethod thereof, and more particularly, to a suspended nutritioncomposition and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

Plant factory is recognized as the highest development stage of facilityagriculture internationally. The plant factory is a highlytechnology-intensive production method not or barely limited by naturalconditions, and has merits such as no use of pesticides, effort savingoperation, and high degree of automation. A yield per unit area of theplant factory reaches as high as tens of times or even hundreds of timesthat of common land farming, and thus is viewed as an important way ofresolving problems connected with population, resource and environment.A core value of the plant factory is to assist in enhancement andrefinement of agriculture, to reduce destruction of the environment andto increase control over quality.

A main technique of the plant factory lies in a combination ofhydroponics, environmental control and biotechnology, whereinhydroponics makes it possible that a crop grows without soil, thusavoiding defects such as loss of soil fertility and obstacles tocontinuous cropping. Specifically, hydroponics is to provide nutrientsfor a plant to absorb and grow, via a nutrient liquid, thereby achievinga goal of soilless cultivation. In addition, an advantage of hydroponicsis ease of automation. Moreover, the nutrient liquid may be recycled foruse, and is easy to monitor at any time.

Generally, the nutrient liquid includes water and a nutrient. A motor isoften used to circulate the nutrient liquid to enable the nutrient to bedispersed uniformly in the water. However, the motor consumes too muchelectrical energy, thus increasing the cost of automatic control inhydroponics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a suspended nutrition composition which releasesa nutrient by being suspended on a water surface so as to increase anentire uniformity of the nutrient in the water, thus saving electricalenergy.

The invention proposes a suspended nutrition composition including afoamed material, a colloid layer and a nutrient. The foamed materialhaving a plurality of pores includes a starch, a biodegradable polyesterand a plasticizer, wherein the pores are formed by bubbles produced froma physical foaming agent. The colloid layer covers a surface of thefoamed material. The nutrient is dispersed in the foamed material.

The invention also proposes a manufacturing method of a suspendednutrition composition including the following steps. First, a starch, abiodegradable polyester, a plasticizer and a physical foaming agent aremixed together to form a first mixture. Then, a nutrient is added to thefirst mixture to form a second mixture. Next, a hot extrusion process isperformed so that the physical foaming agent produces bubbles to form atleast a foamed material having a plurality of pores. After that, acoating process is performed so that a colloid solution covers a surfaceof the foamed material.

Based on the above, the suspended nutrition composition of the inventioncovers the foamed material with the colloid layer to control a releaserate of the nutrient and a concentration of the nutrient in the water.In addition, the suspended nutrition composition of the invention issuspended on the water surface so that the nutrient is disperseduniformly into the water.

To make the aforementioned features and advantages of the invention morecomprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described indetail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process of a suspendednutrition composition according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a suspended nutritioncomposition according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a suspended nutritioncomposition according to another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a manufacturing process of a suspendednutrition composition according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG.2 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a suspended nutritioncomposition according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 1, first, step S102 is performed. A starch, a biodegradablepolyester, a plasticizer and a physical foaming agent are mixed togetherto form a first mixture. Based on a total weight of the first mixture,the content of the starch is 65 wt % to 75 wt %, the content of thebiodegradable polyester is 15 wt % to 25 wt %, the content of theplasticizer is 8 wt % to 13 wt %, and the content of the physicalfoaming agent is 0.5 wt % to 5 wt %.

The starch is used for absorbing a water solution. The starch is, forexample, corn starch, cassava, potato or other suitable starch. Ofcourse, the invention is not limited thereto. Any common edible starchmay be employed as the starch in the present embodiment.

The biodegradable polyester is used for strengthening mechanicalproperties. The biodegradable polyester is, for example, a poly(butylenesuccinate) (PBS) or a poly lactic acid (PLA). Of course, the inventionis not limited thereto. Any polyester that is biodegradable may beemployed as the biodegradable polyester in the present embodiment.

The plasticizer is used for processing and shaping purposes. Theplasticizer is, for example, a mixture of glycerol and water or apolyalcohol. Of course, the invention is not limited thereto. Anyplasticizer that is biodegradable may be employed as the plasticizer inthe present embodiment.

The physical foaming agent is used for producing gas pores. The physicalfoaming agent is, for example, urea (CO(NH₂)₂), sodium hydrogencarbonate (NaHCO₃), ammonium bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃) or calcium carbonate(CaCO₃). The above-mentioned physical foaming agents, all of whichproduce carbon dioxide after being heated, are selected for exemplarypurposes. Of course, the invention is not limited thereto. In otherembodiments, any foaming agent that produces gas after being heated maybe employed as the physical foaming agent as in the present embodiment.

Next, step S104 is performed. A nutrient is added to the first mixtureto form a second mixture. The nutrient is, for example, a fertilizer.The type of the fertilizer depends upon a crop desired to be planted. Inother words, the invention does not limit the type of the nutrient.Specifically, the type of the nutrient is determined according to thetype of an element desired to be added. The fertilizer is, for example,a nitrogen fertilizer, a boron fertilizer, a phosphate fertilizer, apotassium fertilizer or a calcium fertilizer. Furthermore, a contentratio of the nutrient is determined depending upon different types offertilizers. Generally speaking, a concentration of the nitrogenfertilizer in a nutrient liquid is 120 ppm to 300 ppm, a concentrationof the potassium fertilizer in a nutrient liquid is 40 ppm to 150 ppm, aconcentration of the calcium fertilizer in a nutrient liquid is 100 ppmto 260 ppm. The exact concentration of the fertilizer may be adjusteddue to difference between crops. In the present embodiment, the contentof the nutrient in the second mixture is, for example, 3 to 10 times theconcentration of the fertilizer in the nutrient liquid.

In the present embodiment, the nutrient is, for example, a first typefertilizer. The first type fertilizer is, for example, potassiumhydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄), magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄.7H₂O), manganesesulfate (MnSO₄.4H₂O), boric acid (H₃BO₃), sodium tetraborate(Na₂B₄O₇.10H₂O), copper sulfate (CuSO₄.5H₂O), zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄.7H₂O),ammonium heptamolybdate ((NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄.4H₂O), urea (CO(NH₂)₂) or anycombination thereof. In another embodiment, the nutrient is, forexample, a second type fertilizer. The second type fertilizer is, forexample, calcium nitrate (Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O), calcium chloride (CaCl₂),ferric -ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), potassium nitrate(KNO₃) or any combination thereof.

Next, step S106 is performed. A hot extrusion process is performed tothe second mixture so that the physical foaming agent in the secondmixture produces bubbles to form at least a foamed material 110 having aplurality of pores 110P, as shown in FIG. 2. The physical foaming agentmay consist of different ratios of urea, sodium hydrogen carbonate,ammonium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. The physical foaming agentproduces carbon dioxide after being heated, and the carbon dioxideremains in the second mixture to form the foamed material 110 having theplurality of pores 110P.

Specifically, the hot extrusion process is, for example, to guide thesecond mixture into a single-screw extruder for processing. Theprocessing condition is, for example, a four-stage heating process. Thefirst stage is, for example, a preheating and conveying stage, and atemperature thereof is 110° C. to 115° C. The second stage is, forexample, a melting and mixing stage, and a temperature thereof is 125°C. to 130° C. The third stage is, for example, an extruding and blendingstage, and a temperature thereof is 125° C. to 130° C. The fourth stageis, for example, a cooling and outputting stage, and a temperaturethereof is 105° C. to 110° C. In addition, a rotational speed of thescrew is, for example, 40 rpm to 50 rpm. In other words, the hotextrusion process is, for example, to extrude the second mixturesimultaneously while heating the second mixture so that the secondmixture forms the foamed material having a bar shape. However, theinvention does not limit the shape of the foamed material.

Next, a cutting process is selectively performed. The bar-shaped foamedmaterial 110 is cut into a plurality of foamed pellets. Moreover, theinvention does not limit the shape of the foamed pellet. In other words,the foamed material 110 may be a pellet of any shape.

Next, a low temperature curing process is selectively performed to fixthe shape of the foamed material. Here, the curing process is performedat a temperature of −20° C., for example.

Then, step S108 is performed. That is, a coating process is performed sothat a colloid solution covers a surface of the foamed material 110. Thesteps of the coating process include: first, a colloid powder is mixeduniformly with a liquid at 25° C. to 30° C., and then stirred slowlywith a heating and dissolving process being performed to form thecolloid solution, wherein the content of the colloid powder is 1.5 wt %to 51 wt %. Here, the liquid is, for example, water. The heating anddissolving process is performed at a temperature in a range of 60° C. to80° C. In the present embodiment, the colloid is, for example, a naturalbiocolloid or a chemosynthetic colloid. The natural biocolloid is, forexample, agar, xanthan gum, shellac, guar gum, gamma-polyglutamic acid,pectin or sodium alginate. In addition, the chemosynthetic colloid is,for example, a synthetic hydrogel such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA).

In the present embodiment, the colloid solution consists of the colloidpowder and the liquid. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Inanother embodiment, to conduce to a release of the nutrient 130 from thefoamed material 110, the nutrient 130 is added to the mixed colloidpowder and liquid after the heating and dissolving process. Here, thecontent of the nutrient 130 dispersed in the foamed material 110 is, forexample, greater than the content of the nutrient 130 dispersed in thecolloid solution.

Then, the colloid solution is coated on a surface of the cured foamedmaterial 110. For example, the cured foamed material 110 is injectedinto the colloid solution, and then the foamed material having thecolloid solution covering a surface thereof is taken out.

After the coating process is performed, a low temperature curing processis selectively performed to the foamed material 110 covered by thecolloid solution so that the colloid solution forms a solid statecolloid layer 120 covering the foamed material 110 therein. Up to thispoint, the manufacture of the suspended nutrition composition 100 of thepresent embodiment is completed. Following the above, the suspendednutrition composition 100 of the present embodiment is easy tomanufacture, thus having advantages of ease of processing and massproduction as well as low manufacturing cost.

In terms of structure, referring to FIG. 2, the suspended nutritioncomposition 100 of the present embodiment includes the foamed material110, the colloid layer 120, the physical foaming agent and the nutrient130, wherein the colloid layer 120 covers the surface of the foamedmaterial 110. The foamed material 110 has the plurality of pores 110P.The nutrient 130 is dispersed in the foamed material 110. Thecomposition of the foamed material 110 may be obtained by referring tothe previous embodiment, and will not be described repeatedly.

When the suspended nutrition composition 100 is disposed in the water,the water permeates into the suspended nutrition composition 100, andthe nutrient 130 in the suspended nutrition composition 100 is dispersedslowly from the suspended nutrition composition 100 into the water dueto an influence of a concentration gradient. For example, the nutrient130 is dispersed from the foamed material 110, through the colloid layer120, and into the water. Here, a release rate of the nutrient 130 intothe water is controlled based on a content of the nutrient 130 in thesuspended nutrition composition 100. Accordingly, the suspendednutrition composition 100 of the present embodiment releases thenutrient 130 slowly and uniformly into the water.

In the present embodiment, the suspended nutrition composition 100 has adensity of less than or equal to 1 g/cm³. Preferably, the suspendednutrition composition 100 has a density of, for example, less than 1g/cm³. Accordingly, the suspended nutrition composition 100 is suspendedon a water surface. Here, the nutrient 130 is dispersed uniformly intothe water so that a concentration of the nutrient 130 is uniform in thewater.

In addition, when the concentration of the nutrient 130 in the suspendednutrition composition 100 is substantially the same as the concentrationof the nutrient 130 in the water, the nutrient 130 in the suspendednutrition composition 100 will no longer be released into the water.Here, since the foamed material 110 in the suspended nutritioncomposition 100 consists of biodegradable material, the suspendednutrition composition 100 may be directly buried in an arable land to bedegraded by microorganisms in the soil. Accordingly, environmentalpollution is not easily caused, and further, soil fertility of thearable land is increased.

In addition, in other embodiments, the nutrient 130 is dispersed in boththe foamed material 110 and the colloid layer 120, as shown in FIG. 3.In the present embodiment, the content of the nutrient 130 dispersed inthe foamed material 110 is greater than the content of the nutrient 130dispersed in the colloid solution 120. When a suspended nutritioncomposition 100 a is disposed in the water, the nutrient 130 in thecolloid layer 120 is released into the water faster than the nutrient130 in the foamed material 110, so as to further shorten the time forthe nutrient 130 to be released into the water. Specifically, thesuspended nutrition composition 100 a of the present embodiment makes itpossible that the nutrient 130 is dispersed uniformly in a nutrientliquid without using a motor to circulate the nutrient liquid. Based onthe above, using the suspended nutrition composition 100 a of thepresent embodiment enjoys advantages of electrical energy saving andlowered cultivation cost.

In summary, the suspended nutrition composition of the invention coversthe foamed material with the colloid layer so that the nutrient in thefoamed material is released slowly in the water to control theconcentration of the nutrient in the water and the release rate of thenutrient. In addition, the suspended nutrition composition of theinvention is suspended on the water surface. Thus when the nutrient isdispersed in the water, the nutrient is dispersed from top to bottom anduniformly into the water, thereby allowing a plant to absorb thenutrient continuously. In addition, the suspended nutrition compositionof the invention consists of biodegradable components and thus may bedirectly buried in the soil after use, thereby reducing environmentalpollution. Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the suspendednutrition composition of the invention has characteristics of lowmanufacturing cost as well as ease of processing and mass production.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the aboveembodiments, it is apparent to one of the ordinary skill in the art thatmodifications to the described embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of theinvention will be defined by the attached claims not by the abovedetailed descriptions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A manufacturing method of a suspended nutritioncomposition, comprising the following steps: mixing a starch, abiodegradable polyester, a plasticizer and a physical foaming agenttogether to form a first mixture; adding a nutrient to the first mixtureto form a second mixture; performing a hot extrusion process so that thephysical foaming agent produces bubbles to form at least a foamedmaterial having a plurality of pores performing a coating process sothat a colloid solution covers a surface of the foamed material; andperforming a low temperature curing process to the foamed materialcovered by the colloid solution after performing the coating process. 2.The manufacturing method of the suspended nutrition composition asrecited in claim 1, wherein the content of the starch is 65 wt % to 75wt %, the content of the biodegradable polyester is 15 wt % to 25 wt %,the content of the plasticizer is 8 wt % to 13 wt %, and the content ofthe physical foaming agent is 0.5 wt % to 5 wt %, which are based on atotal weight of the first mixture.
 3. The manufacturing method of thesuspended nutrition composition as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: performing a low temperature curing process to the foamedmaterial before performing the coating process.
 4. The manufacturingmethod of the suspended nutrition composition as recited in claim 1,wherein the steps of manufacturing the colloid solution comprise: mixinga colloid powder with a liquid; and performing a heating and dissolvingprocess to the mixed colloid powder and liquid to form the colloidsolution.
 5. The manufacturing method of the suspended nutritioncomposition as recited in claim 4, further comprising: adding thenutrient to the mixed colloid powder and liquid after the heating anddissolving process to form the colloid solution.
 6. The manufacturingmethod of the suspended nutrition composition as recited in claim 4,wherein the content of the colloid powder is 1.5 wt % to 51 wt % basedon a total weight of the colloid solution.